Improvement in cartridge-boxes



Cartridge B0X.

Patented Dec. 20, 1864.

MPETERS, FHOTLITHDGRAPHER. WASHINGTON. D C

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ERASTUS BLAKESLEE, OF PLYMOUTH, CONNECTICUT.

IMPROVEMENT IN CARTRIDGE-BOXES.

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that l, EaAs'rUs BLAIrEsLEE, of Plymouth, Litchfield county,and State ot' Connecticut, have invented new and useful Improvements inCartridge-Boxes; and I do hereby declare the following to be an exactdescription thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings,and tothe letters of reference marked thereon, making a part of thisspecification.

The nature of my invention consists in the combination of one or moremetal tubes containing cartridges, with a spring-top cartridgeboX andside-pouch for pistolcartridges.

To enable others skilled in the art to make and use my invention, I willproceed to describe its construction and operation, as follows Figurelrepresents a perspective view of the cartrid ge-box complet-e Fig. 2, asectional view of a tube, with the elastic bottom. Figs. 3 and 4. show atube with springs attached to a Wire.

A represents the cartridge boX, made of wood or metal and covered withleather, and is about one foot in length and three by two inches square.

B is a strap, by which the box is suspended over the shoulder. The oneend of this strap is attached at the fiont side ofthe box by a loop andeye, B, and the other end by a hook, (i. and eye D, at tlte lower sideof the box. This strap can be shortened or lengthened at pleasure, tosuit the size of the person, by Inoving the hook E to an upper or lowerhole. G is-the seit-shutting lid at top, connected with the box A by aspring-hinge, F, to keep the lid always shut and prevent the accidentalloss of ammunition. The lid is also secured by a tongue and button, H H.

J is a pouch at the front side of the box, secured by a tongue andbutton, K K, inY tended to contain pistol-cartridges.

L L are long tubes, made of tin or any suitable material (one or more innumber) to suit the length and size ofthe box. Each otl these tubes arelled with seven cartridges-more or less in number. The tubes tit closelyin corresponding chambers in the box, and a tube isv drawn out of thebox whenever the be-arm is to be loaded. They are admirably adapted forloading carbines such as the Spencer Carbine.

In case I use a single tube, L, I attach a wire, O, inclosed on theoutside of the tube L, as shown at Figs. 3 and 4, with a spiral spring,l?, at top, and a fla-t steel spring, R, at the bottom, and I reversethe tube so that the open end is below.

The cartridges are. first inserted in the wooden chambers ot' thecartridge-box. I then shove the movable metal tube over the cartridges,when I desire a charge of eartridges, and by means of the lower spring,R, I withdraw all the cartridges ot one .chamber and drop them ont ofthe tube L into the piece or fire-arm. When the wire O is up, as at Fig.3, the spring R hangs fiat against the side of the tube L, and the tubeL can be thrust down over the cartridges; but when the wire O is presseddown from the top, as shown at Fig. 4, the iiat spring R at the bottombends outward underneath the lower cartridge, and a small hook or catchholds the spiral spring P to its place, and thus the whole charge ot'seven cartridges can be withdrawn at once.

M M are small elastic buttons, made of india-rubber and fitted in thebottom of each tube, to prevent the cartridges from being jarred orinjured by friction or concussion when the tubes are charged with thecartridges. A loop, N, is fastened by rivets to the back ofthecartridge-box near the lower end, by which the box is secured to thesaberbelt of the soldier.

This tubular cartridge-box is very light, easily carried, and veryconvenient for loading various kinds of fire-arms, and the ammunition iswell protected and preserved.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

The combination of one or more movable metal tubes, each containing twoor more cartridges, with a spring-top cartridge-box and side pouch, asherein described and for the purposes set forth.

.ERASTUS BLAKESLEE. 4 Witnesses:

I. FRANKLIN REIGART, J oHN S. HoLLINGsHEAD.

